Mark Masters

Mark Masters

Surrounded by a historical cadre of great jazz composers, Mark Masters has emerged as one of the great jazz arrangers of the 20th and 21st century. Born Mark Alton Masters November 13, 1957 in Gary, IN, he was drawn to the trumpet, and formed his first ensemble in 1982. His formal studies began at Riverside City College in California studying under Roger Rickson, and California State University in Los Angeles. Masters recorded two initial efforts as a combo leader for the West Coast based Sea Breeze label — Early Start in 1984 and Silver Threads Among the Blues in 1985. Regarded as his most prominent initial professional collaboration was with Stan Kenton’s Creative World company, working on alumni reunions, the compositions of Bob Graettinger, Ken Hanna, Don Piestrup, or Hank Levy, and the recording Back to Balboa in 1995 for MAMA records. Aside from writing charts he was dedicated to teaching, working daily as a professor of jazz education at Claremont McKenna College in Pasadena, CA.…full bio